What it is
Using a camera and small tools, the surgeon repairs a torn labrum (the rim of cartilage around the socket) and may reshape bone that pinches the joint (femoroacetabular impingement, FAI).
Who it's usually for
Younger, active people with hip pain from FAI or labral tears and little or no arthritis. It helps much less when arthritis is present.
Pros and cons
✓ Pros
- Small cuts and no joint replacement.
- Can relieve pain and allow a return to sport for the right patients.
⚠ Cons and risks
- Less helpful, or unhelpful, when arthritis is present.
- Results depend a lot on the surgeon's experience.
- Temporary numbness or nerve irritation from the traction used during surgery.
Recovery times are typical ranges; yours may be different. Your surgeon can tell you what to expect.
What recovery is like
Crutches for a few weeks and a staged physical therapy program over several months. Early soreness is common and settles with time.
Questions to ask your surgeon
- How much arthritis do I have?
- How many hip arthroscopies do you do each year?
- What results do your patients like me get?
When to get help quickly: Get help the same day for a hot, red, swollen joint with fever, if you can't put weight on your leg after an injury, or, after surgery, for fever, wound drainage, or new calf pain or swelling. For chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, call 911.
What surgeons say in their videos
Videos from different surgeons and doctors, newest first. They share their own views, and we don't rank or endorse any of them.
Common questions about hip arthroscopy
What is hip arthroscopy?
Using a camera and small tools, the surgeon repairs a torn labrum (the rim of cartilage around the socket) and may reshape bone that pinches the joint (femoroacetabular impingement, FAI).
Who is hip arthroscopy for?
Younger, active people with hip pain from FAI or labral tears and little or no arthritis. It helps much less when arthritis is present.
What is recovery like after hip arthroscopy?
Crutches for a few weeks and a staged physical therapy program over several months. Early soreness is common and settles with time.
What are the risks of hip arthroscopy?
Less helpful, or unhelpful, when arthritis is present. Results depend a lot on the surgeon's experience. Temporary numbness or nerve irritation from the traction used during surgery.
Getting ready
Losing extra weight, exercising before surgery, stopping smoking and getting your home ready can make surgery safer and recovery easier.
How to get ready for surgery →Find a surgeon
Look up hip and knee surgeons in your state, from public records.
Find a hip & knee surgeon →Other hip surgeries
Sources
We base this page on these major medical organizations and studies. How we write our pages.
General information written for Hip & Knee Surgery, not by the surgeons in the videos. For education only; not medical advice. Last reviewed October 2026.